The best safety glasses protect the eyes against the various risks in the worksite. Find out which of our picks are best suited for your construction project
Construction sites are full of potential hazards that can cause eye injuries. Exposure to flying debris, sharp objects, and harmful chemicals can easily send a worker to the emergency room. That’s why wearing the right eye protection is crucial for anyone working on construction projects.
To give you an idea of the types of protective eyewear available in the market, Canadian Occupational Safety reveals our picks for the best safety glasses for construction work. We will give you a rundown of the different materials and features. We will also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each.
If you’re looking for the right safety glasses for your construction team, this guide can give you options. Read on and find out what makes these protective glasses ideal for the jobsite.
What are the best safety glasses for the construction site?
The best safety glasses for your construction team depend on the type of work they are doing. The eye protection featured on our list comes in various materials and configurations to suit different tasks. Depending on the nature of the job, one pair may be a better fit than the other.
Here are our picks for the 10 best safety glasses for the construction site. The list is arranged alphabetically. All prices are current as of June 21, 2024.
1. ArmourX Wrap-RX Collection safety glasses
Lens material: Various (replaceable)
Key features: Removable cushion and lenses; suit indoor and outdoor work environments
Price range: $20 to $54
The ArmourX Wrap-RX Collection safety glasses suit indoor and outdoor use. Models come in a wraparound design and feature integrated side shields for better protection. The protective eyewear has a removable cushion and lenses. The frame can be made of plastic or metal and is available in various colours. The Wrap-RX safety glasses meet ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 standards.
2. Covestro Makrolon 3207 safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Impact-resistant and UV-protective lenses
Price range: Undisclosed
Covestro’s Makrolon 3207 safety glasses feature impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses. These lenses have passed ballistic-resistance tests using 45-gram solid steel bullets fired at speeds of 150 to 400 feet per second. The tests were done to see if the eyewear can protect against all possible worksite risks. These include flying debris, sparks, wood chips, metal slivers, nails, and harmful substances. One of the best safety glasses on our list, the model also provides UV protection.
3. Dentec SenTecDX safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Impact-resistant and UV-protective lenses
Price range: $26.40 to $78
The SenTecDX safety glasses from Dentec features impact-resistant anti-fog polycarbonate lenses. These lenses have scratch-resistant coating, which provides 99.9% UV protection according to the manufacturer.
The protective eyewear also has rubberized temple tips and an integrated nosepiece that fits comfortably with half-mask respirators. The spring-like hinges offer a comfortable fit. The safety glasses also come with a replaceable foam insert that provides good dust and debris protection.
4. Edge Eyewear Robson Vapor Shield safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Impact-resistant, UV-protective, and anti-fog lenses; non-slip frame
Price range: $24.99 to $30.99
The lenses of Edge Eyewear’s Robson Vapor Shield safety glasses are made of impact-resistant polycarbonate that filters 99.9% of harmful UV rays. They come with a clear or smoke finish and feature a military-grade anti-fog coating. The lenses are tapered to eliminate refraction. They can also withstand extreme temperatures and humidity.
Edge Eyewear’s Robson Vapor Shield safety glasses have a nylon frame with thermoplastic rubber (TPR) padding to prevent slipping. The eyewear meets CSA Z94.3 and Military Ballistic MCEPS GL-PD 10-12 standards.
5. Ergodyne Sköll safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Impact-resistant, UV-protective, and anti-fog lenses; non-slip frame
Price range: $11.88 to $15.25
The Ergodyne Sköll safety glasses meet the MIL-PRF 32342 ballistic impact-protection requirements. One of the best safety glasses for construction work, the model provides more than four times the level of protection required by occupational standards.
The protective eyewear features scratch-resistant lenses that block 99.9% of harmful UV rays. It also uses the company’s Fog-Off technology to prevent the lenses from fogging up even in the most extreme conditions.
Ergodyne Sköll comes in a half-frame design for better peripheral vision. The rubber temples prevent the safety glasses from slipping. The product meets ANSI Z87.1+ and CSA Z94.3 standards.
6. Gateway Safety Conqueror MAG bifocal safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Bifocal lenses
Price range: $45.49 to $48.70
Gateway Safety’s Conqueror MAG bifocal protective eyewear is designed for workers who need assistance with reading small print or performing detailed tasks. It eliminates the need to switch between regular safety glasses and reading glasses, which can expose workers to errors and eye injuries. The safety glasses are available in multiple diopter levels.
The Conqueror MAG has a one-piece wraparound polycarbonate lens that meets ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 standards. The frame comes with a soft rubber nosepiece and ergonomic contoured temple tips for improved comfort. The safety glasses also have an adjustable length eyewear retainer.
7. Honeywell Uvex Avatar safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Scratch-resistant and anti-fog lenses; adjustable frame
Price range: $46.23 to $51.39
The Honeywell Uvex Avatar safety glasses feature eight points of adjustability for improved comfort, fit, and flexibility. The eyewear’s lenses use the company’s Uvex HydroShield coating technology, which prevents fogging and scratching.
The lenses are available in five tint colours that can suit indoor and outdoor use. The safety glasses come in a nine-base wraparound design to maximize the wearer’s field of vision and widen coverage. Uvex Avatar meets the ANSI Z87.1, CSA Z94.32, and EN166 safety standards.
8. Kimberly-Clark Professional Jackson Safety V60 Safeview Safety Eyewear
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Click-to-fit Rx lens inserts; UV-protective lenses
Price range: $18.69 to $24.76
The Jackson Safety V60 Safeview Safety Eyewear from Kimberly-Clark Professional comes with Rx inserts. The protective glasses are designed for workers who wear prescription lenses or require up-close magnification. It eliminates the need for switching between regular safety glasses and reading glasses, reducing the risk of mistakes and injuries.
The safety glasses feature close-fit prescription Rx lens inserts that clip easily behind the polycarbonate eye shield. The inserts also come with flexible-position “click-to-fit” temples for custom fit. The glasses also have lenses that block 99.9% of harmful UV rays.
9. ORR Safety XP750 safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Anti-fog, UV-protective, and scratch-resistant lenses; dust-resistant foam protection
Price: $15
The polycarbonate lenses of ORR Safety’s XP750 protective eyewear are available in various finishes to suit different work environments. These include standard clear, dark, polarized, and emerald and red mirror. The lenses are anti-fog, UV-protective, and scratch-resistant.
The safety glasses use medical-grade foam insert that blocks dust and debris while providing ventilation for the wearer’s eyes. The eyewear has CSA approval.
10. Pyramex Legacy safety glasses
Lens material: Polycarbonate
Key features: Anti-fog, UV-protective, scratch-resistant, and infrared-filtering lenses
Price: $6.52
Last on our best safety glasses list is the Pyramex Legacy frameless protective eyewear that features H2MAX anti-fogging coating technology. This treatment prevents sweat, humidity and extreme temperatures from disrupting the wearer’s vision. The lightweight protective eyewear is made of scratch-resistant polycarbonate. The lenses provide 99.9% protection against harmful UV rays. The side shields can feature either IR 3.0 or IR 5.0 infrared filtering.
Are safety glasses required in Canada?
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) requires workers to wear eye and face protection if their jobs expose these body parts to potential injuries. Some of these risks, according to the agency, include:
- abrasive and molten material
- flying particles and dust from grinding, cutting, hammering, and sawing
- radiation and lasers such as those from welding
- splashes – including droplets and sprays – from chemicals and other harmful liquids
Provinces and territories have different regulations when it comes to protective eyewear, but most require safety glasses that meet CSA Z94.3 standards.
CCOHS also requires employers to conduct hazard assessments to identify the different risks their staff are exposed to. They must then decide on the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and other measures to improve workplace safety.
“If using personal protective equipment is part of the work, the workplace should develop and implement a personal protective equipment program,” the agency explains on its website. “A good comprehensive strategy involves considering the hazards, conducting risk assessments, evaluating all possible control methods, integrating various approaches, and re-examining the controls frequently to make sure that the hazard continues to be controlled.”
Find out the different types of PPE your workplace needs in this essential guide to personal safety equipment in Canada.
What are the different types of eye protection for construction workers?
CCOHS classifies eye and face protective equipment in the same category. In general, any PPE that shields the face also protects the eyes. Here are the common types of eye and face protection workers in the construction sector need:
Safety glasses
This type of safety eyewear protects against dust, chips, and other fragments. Safety glasses must have wraparound sides or side shields for full protection and anti-fog lenses to combat heat and humidity.
Safety goggles
Safety goggles offer better protection against debris, chemicals, and impact compared to safety glasses. This type of safety eyewear has vents to reduce fogging. Indirect-vent goggles are designed for workers exposed to fine dust and chemical splashes. Direct-vent protective eyewear is for workers who are often exposed to large particles.
Welding goggles
These special-purpose goggles protect against harmful radiation emitted during arc or gas welding. They come in various shades to suit different levels of exposure.
Face shield
Face shields protect the entire face from chemicals, blood borne hazards, and fragments. One question that always pops up is whether you can wear a face shield instead of safety glasses. Face shields are meant only as secondary protection. This means they must always be worn with safety eyewear.
What should you consider when choosing the best safety glasses for your construction team?
Norm Abram, master carpenter and host of hit home-improvement shows This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop, stresses the importance of wearing the right eye protection in the jobsite.
“When it comes to safety, there’s no better tool than protective eyewear,” he states in an eye safety campaign. Wearing safety eyewear can significantly reduce the risk of injury. “Don’t risk a lifetime of vision loss. Protect your vision with protective eyewear.”
There are several factors to consider when choosing the best safety glasses for your construction project. These include:
Safety certification
All safety glasses worn in Canadian worksites must meet CSA Z94.3 standard. Updated in 2020, the standard applies to eye and face protection for occupational and educational purposes. The standard defines the test methods and provides guidance on the selection, care, and use of protective face and eyewear.
Many safety glasses used in jobsites across the country are also compliant with ANSI Z87.1, the CSA standard’s US counterpart.
Lens materials
The best safety glasses in Canada have polycarbonate lenses as the material is strong and durable. These are often coated with various finishes to improve fog, impact, scratch resistance, and UV protection.
The table below details the different lens materials, along with their properties, based on CSA Z94.3 guidelines:
Peripheral coverage
While most objects that may impact safety glasses will likely come from the front, they can also strike from the sides. That’s why most protective eyewear comes with wraparound sides or side shields for maximum coverage. For closed-in goggles, it’s also important to have anti-fog features to combat sweat and humidity.
Comfort
Safety glasses are intended to be worn for long hours. That’s why comfort is important. Look for lightweight eyewear with adjustable temples and padded nose bridge. There are also models with inserts to clip on prescription lenses to avoid having to switch between glasses.
Find more news and information about the best safety glasses for your industry by visiting our Product Resources page. Be sure to bookmark this page for the latest industry updates.
What are your picks for the best safety glasses for your construction team? Let us know in the comments.
